Preview of AFL Round 23 matches (all times AEST):
FRIDAY, August 24
Port Adelaide v Essendon at Adelaide Oval, 7.50pm
Head to head: Power 16 Bombers 13
BetEasy: Power $1.60 Bombers $2.35
Essendon’s season is over while Port need a miracle – their only path to the finals involves Gold Coast beating Geelong. The Power looked ready for a September holiday when they capitulated to Collingwood in the final quarter last week. Senior leaders Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard must stand up in what could be Brendon Goddard’s AFL swansong.
Key: Can Port kick a winning score? Hobbled ruckman Paddy Ryder was their leading goalscorer last week with three majors.
Tip: Bombers by 19 points
SATURDAY, August 25
Geelong v Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium, 1.45pm
Head to head: Cats 7 Suns 2
BetEasy: Cats $1.01 Suns $17.00
It could be more carnage at Kardinia after the Cats piled on 23 straight goals in a 133-point annihilation of Fremantle. The Suns acquitted themselves reasonably well during last week’s tight loss to Brisbane but have been bullied by the competition’s heavyweights.
Key: Jack Riewoldt booted 10 goals against the Suns a fortnight ago and Coleman Medal rival Tom Hawkins will be eyeing a similar haul. A big job looms for Steven May.
Tip: Cats by 76 points
Richmond v Western Bulldogs at the MCG, 2.10pm
Head to head: Tigers 78 Bulldogs 73 Drawn 2
BetEasy: Tigers $1.11 Bulldogs $6.75
With top spot sealed up, there’s not much in this for Richmond beyond a tune-up for the finals. Big guns Trent Cotchin, David Astbury and Dion Prestia are back for the Tigers as Damien Hardwick looks to nail down his best 22. The 13th-placed Dogs have won their last three games but beating Richmond at the MCG is likely to be a bridge too far.
Key: Can the Dogs contain a rampant Jack Riewoldt, who leads the Coleman Medal count by two goals?
Tip: Richmond by 33 points
Fremantle v Collingwood at Domain Stadium, 4.45pm
Head to head: Dockers 11 Magpies 18
BetEasy: Dockers $5.15 Magpies $1.17
The Dockers will surely be desperate to regain some pride after a record loss to Geelong which set off a week of recrimination against coach Ross Lyon. But there’s even more at stake for Collingwood, who could secure a top-two finish should West Coast slip up. The Pies continue to find a way despite heavy injuries and it’s hard to see this being an exception.
Key: Second-year Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy will face a huge battle to restrict Brodie Grundy’s influence.
Tip: Magpies by 28 points
Sydney v Hawthorn at the SCG, 7.25pm
Head to head: Swans 71 Hawks 92 Drawn 2
BetEasy: Swans $1.65 Hawks $2.25
Another huge chapter in the modern game’s most storied rivalry. The winner will secure a top-four finish and a date with Richmond at the MCG. Both teams are storming home, although Lance Franklin’s troublesome groin means he is no certainty to line up despite being named by Sydney. Former Swan and Brownlow Medal favourite Tom Mitchell will be eager to lead the way for the Hawks.
Key: Will Jeff Kennett’s claim that Franklin has “never” played well against the Hawks come back to bite the Hawthorn president?
Tip: Swans by 2 points
Carlton v Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm
Head to head: Blues 18 Crows 19
BetEasy: Blues $6.75 Crows $1.11
It’s hard to say who has been a bigger disappointment this year: Adelaide, who will miss the eight after playing in last year’s grand final, or wooden-spooners Carlton, who have regressed badly. It won’t count for much but expect the Crows to comfortably account for a Blues side that has won just two games.
Key: Mitch McGovern, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch will again look to fill their boots after combining for 10 goals last time the two sides met.
Tip: Crows by 62 points
SUNDAY, August 26
Brisbane v West Coast at The Gabba, 1.10pm
Head to head: Lions 10 Eagles 21
BetEasy: Lions $2.55 Eagles $1.52
This is a real danger game for the Eagles. Win, and they secure a top-two finish; lose, and they’re likely to be overtaken by Collingwood or Hawthorn. On paper West Coast should be too strong but the 15th-placed Lions are a better team than their ladder position might suggest. The Eagles simply cannot afford any complacency.
Key: With Josh Kennedy still sidelined by an ankle injury, the Eagles need Jack Darling to step up and reclaim the hot form he had earlier in the season.
Tip: Eagles by 10 points
Melbourne v GWS at the MCG, 3.20pm
Head to head: Demons 5 Giants 5
BetEasy: Demons $1.45 Giants $2.80
Melbourne are finally playing in September once more but their job is far from over. A victory over GWS would secure an all-important home final and provide no shortage of confidence heading into the September cauldron. The Giants’ mounting injury toll is a concern but star midfielder Josh Kelly looms as a big inclusion.
Key: Max Gawn was unstoppable against the Eagles last week. It will be a massive task for Giants ruckman Rory Lobb to curtail him.
Tip: Demons by 16 points
St Kilda v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm
Head to head: Saints 78 Kangaroos 78 Drawn 2
BetEasy: Saints $3.65 Kangaroos $1.29
With both sides out of finals contention, the spotlight is likely to remain on Alan Richardson. The beleaguered St Kilda coach needs to inspire the kind of performance that will silence rumours of a strained relationship with his players. North spearhead Ben Brown’s Coleman Medal bid is another intriguing subplot.
Key: Can North’s blue-collar midfielders get back to their best after an unimpressive performance against Adelaide last week?
Tip: Kangaroos by 21 points.